For those in Central Florida who garden caladiums; do you mulch?

Cyprus mulch for mine...

Absolutely, Chris. Mulch keeps the moisture in the soil, keeps down weeds and also keeps the soil cooler. All those things will help your Caladiums both to grow better and to last longer.

I like Florimulch if you can get it. It's a wood chip mulch made from an invasive tree - the melaleuca tree which is also the source of tea tree oil. Thus the mulch is aromatic, and doesn't attract bugs as much as other mulches. Usually it's available at Lowe's or any good nursery. Buying this mulch also benefits the environment because you're paying the company to cut down invasive trees. A win-win!

Thank you Elaine and Scott. I should of been a little more explicit in my question. I just planted the bulbs; can I mulch before I see the the actual caladiums sprouting up?

Since mulch is used to keep weeds down, will the mulch also keep the bulbs from sprouting or slow the process?

Thanks, I really appreciate the help.

P.S., Please excuse my ignorance, I am new to the hobby

Chris, A couple of inches of mulch will do no harm before they sprout. Mine get a new layer of mulch over the winter before they return in spring.

I've had a small bed of caladiums under a Live Oak tree beside my driveway for several years. This season we always have to blow the leaves off the pavement every day and the layer of leaf mulch is unusually deep this year - lots of leaves have fallen. The Caladiums have popped up right through the mulch and the layer is much deeper than it should be, at least 6" .
CHris, I think your bulbs will be fine.

Thank you Scott and Alice, for your help and advise. Can't wait for my caladiums to pop up from the ground and thru the mulch. I will keep you all posted, and show some pics as well

We live around Orlando area. This is my first season to grow Caladiums. I know that they die back in late fall, etc. but they are getting droopy and looking pretty bad. Can I cut them back or will that kill them?

As the leaves turn brown you can cut them off. But any leaf with green still on it is still feeding the new bulb for next year, so you should leave them on as long as they're alive. Trim selectively.